Dutch manor turned sleek design hotel in small town Zwolle
Grand Boutique Hotel Ter Borch / Zwolle / Netherlands
There is a great chain with hotels in Belgium and The Netherlands that was unknown to me before we moved to this part of the world. It is called Pillows Hotels and they have 7 hotels spread over these two countries. To help me as a guest to navigate, they have created four categories: Charme, City, Luxury Boutique and Grand Boutique hotels. And although they are all different there is a clear connection that is visible in the interior design and that they all have full focus on us as guests. They truly put customer experience in the forefront.
We had the opportunity to stay at the Grand Boutique Hotel Ter Borch (yes, I know! It is a mouthful…) located in Zwolle, The Netherlands. This old villa has been extended with a more modern-looking building that is cleverly hidden in the back. In total there are 41 rooms in different categories spread over the two buildings. Our room was in the modern building.
The interior design is very discreet with a muted color scheme and calming tones. This goes for textiles, the walls as well as the fitted carpet. It creates a very relaxing setting, almost like you feel a need to use your indoor voice not to disturb the peace.
One thing I think they do so well at Pillows is the welcome. When we arrived we were asked to sit down in the lounge and the immediately brought us a drink and some snacks while they sorted out the check in process. This is something I wished more hotels would do. Such a great start of your stay.
Welcome to Hotel Ter Borch! Located between the train station and downtown Zwolle.
The reception area. Love the herring bone wooden floors and the use of dark colors. Such a beautiful combo.
I have said it before and I will say it again: I love hotels that welcome their guests with something to drink. It should be mandatory. :-)
M exploring the hotel. The muted color scheme and the fitted carpet creates a very soft atmosphere.
Our room was totally without any unnecessary decorations. It was all about function and keeping things subtle.
The old and the new buildings are seamlessly connected on the inside. On the outside they really stand out next to each other.
A perfect place for something to drink in the afternoon sun.
M doing a run around the moat surrounding the old part of Zwolle.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…have done all the other main cities of the Netherlands and want to discover something new, something that is off the beaten track. Zwolle is a cute little town with a busy restaurant/bar scene and good shopping. So with that said, this is a perfect hotel and town for a weekend getaway.
My favorite thing about this place…
…I love a hotel that takes the welcome seriously. At Pillows Zwolle you almost don’t have time to get through the front door before you are offered a glass of bubbly and some snacks. My kind of welcome. I also want to mention the excellent in-house restaurant, Coperto Restobar. Great food!
What not to miss when staying here…
…there is a moat surrounding the central parts of this old Hanseatic town and it was a perfect way to start the day, to put on a pair of running shoes and explore the city on foot. And then go back to the hotel to enjoy the great breakfast.
If you like this place you might also like…
Indigo, The Hague, Netherlands
Parc Hotel Billia, Saint-Vincent, Italy
Grand Hotel Reylof, Ghent, Belgium
